Texas Monthly‘s quadrennial list of the top 50 barbecue spots in Texas features two area establishments in the top ten, Tejas Chocolate Craftory in Tomball at No. 6, and CorkScrew BBQ in Spring at No. 7. Also in the top 50 are Gatlin’s BBQ, Killen’s Barbecue (in Pearland), Pinkerton’s Barbecue, The Pit Room, and Roegels Barbecue. Want BBQ done right? We got this.

  • houston-press-tejas-chocolate-craftory-bbq-chuck-cook.webp
    Barbecue at Tejas Chocolate Craftory in Tomball
  • houston-press-tejas-chocolate-craftory-exterior-chuck-cook.webp
    Tejas Chocolate Craftory in Tomball
  • houston-press-tejas-chocolate-craftory-patio-chuck-cook.webp
    Tejas Chocolate Craftory in Tomball serves breakfast tacos on Saturday mornings
  • houston-press-tejas-chocolate-craftory-truffles-chuck-cook.webp
    Tejas Chocolate Craftory in Tomball also serves high-quality chocolate truffles
  • hou_food_150212_corkscrewbbqbrisket_phaedracook.webp
    CorkScrew BBQ in Old Town Spring
  • 7725329.0.webp
    CorkScrew BBQ in Old Town Spring
  • hou_food_150212_corkscrewsausageribs_phaedracook.webp
    Sausage and ribs at CorkScrew BBQ in Old Town Spring
  • 7725330.0.webp
    CorkScrew BBQ in Old Town Spring
  • hou_food_150212_corkscrewpulledporktacos_phaedracook.webp
    Pulled pork tacos at CorkScrew BBQ in Old Town Spring
  • hou_food_150211_will_nichole_buckman_corkscrewbbq_phaedracook.webp
    Will and Nichole Buckman of CorkScrew BBQ in Old Town Spring
  • hou_food_150212_corkscrewbbqribs_phaedracook.webp
    Ribs, sausage and turkey at CorkScrew BBQ in Old Town Spring
  • hou_food_150212_corkscrewcobbler_phaedracook.webp
    Blueberry cobbler at CorkScrew BBQ in Old Town Spring
  • ggatlin2.webp
    Gatlin’s BBQ
  • ggatlin.webp
    Greg Gatlin of Gatlin’s BBQ
  • gatlins1.webp
    Barbecue from Gatlin’s BBQ
  • gatlins4.webp
    Chocolate cat with caramel frosting, pecans and brownie bites at Gatlin’s BBQ
  • img_2694.webp
    Gatlin’s BBQ in its (fairly) new location in the Heights
  • gatlinsmoker.webp
    Gatlin’s BBQ pit at its former location
  • houfood_170615_killens2_cuclam.webp
    Brisket at Killen’s Barbecue in Pearland
  • houfood_170615_killens3_cuclam.webp
    Smoked fatty brisket at Killen’s Barbecue in Pearland
  • houfood_170615_killens_cuclam.webp
    Meat tray at Killen’s Barbecue in Pearland
  • killens_plate.webp
    Killen’s Barbecue in Pearland
  • killens_ribs2.webp
    Ribs at Killen’s Barbecue in Pearland
  • killens_brisket.webp
    Brisket at Killen’s Barbecue in Pearland
  • houfood_161205_pinkertons_cuclam.webp
    Pinkerton’s Barbecue
  • pinkerton.webp
    Grant Pinkerton in front of a smoker at Pinkerton’s Barbecue
  • pinkerton_bbq.webp
    Central Texas-style barbecue is served by the pound at Pinkerton’s Barbecue
  • pinkerton_beef_rib.webp
    Beef ribs with a peppery crust at Pinkerton’s Barbecue
  • pinkerton_bloody_mary.webp
    Pinkerton’s Barbecue serves a spicy Bloody Mary
  • pinkerton_front.webp
    Pinkerton’s Barbecue
  • houston-press-the-pit-room-brisket.webp
    Brisket at The Pit Room
  • houston-press-the-pit-room-interior.webp
    The Pit Room
  • q6a0032.webp
    Smoked chicken taco at The Pit Room
  • houston-press-the-pit-room-taco-trio.webp
    Brisket, pulled pork and chicken tacos at The Pit Room
  • hou_food_150225_roegelsbbqporkbutt_phaedracook.webp
    Pork butt at Roegels Barbecue Co.
  • hou_food_150220_roegelsbbqbrisketslicing_phaedracook.webp
    Brisket at Roegels Barbecue Co.
  • hou_food_150220_roegelsbbqsausagepulledpork_phaedracook.webp
    Turkey, sausage, pulled pork and ribs at Roegels Barbecue Co.
  • hou_food_150220_misty_russellroegels_phaedracook.webp
    Owners Misty and Russell Roegels of Roegels Barbecue Co.
  • hou_food_150220_roegelsbbqribs_brisket_phaedracook.webp
    Brisket, ribs, pulled pork and sausage at Roegels Barbecue Co.
  • hou_food_150220_roegelsbbqbrisket_phaedracook.webp
    Brisket at Roegels Barbecue Co.
  • hou_food_150220_roegelsbbqtexascaviar_phaedracook.webp
    hou_food_150220_roegelsbbqtexascaviar_phaedracook.webp
  • hou_food_150220_roegelsbananapudding_phaedracook.webp
    Banana pudding (with a touch of bourbon) at Roegels Barbecue Co.

Additional Slideshows

Gwendolyn Knapp is the food editor at the Houston Press. A sixth-generation Floridian, she is still torn as to whether she likes smoked fish dip or queso better.